War Stories – Korman – “A story of telling truth from lies – and finding out what being a hero really means.”
The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice – DeSelm – Ordered to build full-size marionette soldiers, Pirouette must decide whether to bring one, an assassin, to life. All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys Soccer Team – Soontornvat – Nonfiction account of the rescue of the Wild Boars soccer team in 2018. The Kinder Poison – Mae – “Fantasy adventure that follows a teenage girl chosen to be the human sacrifice in a deadly game between three heirs who will do anything for the crown.” Hood – Moke – When Isabelle becomes the target of the ruthless Wolf, her mother sends her into the forest in search of the only person who can help, Robin Hood, who happens to also be the father she has never met. Echo Mountain – Wolk – When Ellie’s father falls into a coma, she travels to the top of her new home, Echo Mountain, in search of “the hag” with special healing powers. King and the Dragonflies – Callender – Kingston, warned by brother, Kahlid, to stay away from best friend Sandy, who might be gay, defies the warning and tries to help Sandy escape from his abusive home. Ground Zero – Gratz – Stories of two teens. One is in the World Trade Center when it is attacked on 9/11. The other is in present day Afghanistan as American soldiers try to drive out the Taliban. How will their stories connect? Fighting Words – Bradley – Two sisters linked by love and trauma. Suki has been protecting 10-year-old Della from sexual abuse, but who has been protecting Suki? Before the Ever After – Woodson – ZJ’s dad, a pro football player, is loved by all. But when Dad’s memory fades and anger takes over, ZJ and his mother must come to grips with what football injuries did to his dad.
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Legendborn – Deonn – Bree, whose magical abilities have been unlocked by accident, must decide whether to infiltrate the “Legendborn” group, join their cause, or fight against them.
Dragon Hoops – Yang – Graphic Novel about the winning basketball players at the high school where Yang teaches. Clap When You Land – Acevedo – Two girls, one in NYC, one in the Dominican Republic, one father – they don’t know each other exists. Told in verse. Kent State – Wiles – May 4th Kent State shooting told in verse from multiple perspectives. They Went Left – Hesse – Zofia, liberated from a concentration camp after WWII searches throughout Poland and Germany for her brother, the only family member she thinks survived the war. We Are Not From Here – Sanchez – Harrowing story of 3 teens escaping from Guatemala, traveling through Mexico, hoping to cross into the US. Concrete Rose – Thomas – Story of Maverick Carter’s teen years, Starr’s father from The Hate You Give. The latest historical fiction from Gratz focuses on Sept. 11, 2001 and the attack on the World Trade Center. Nine-year-old Brandon has been suspended from school and needs to go to work with his father, chef at Windows on the World at the top of the North Tower. Without telling his father, Brandon slips away to go to a nearby store and purchase a replacement toy for his friend, the reason he was suspended. Brandon is in an elevator when the plane hits the building, and so begins his struggle to try to get back to his father on the top floor. Reshmina lives in present day Afghanistan, in a remote village where the Taliban is active and the Americans are trying to drive them out. When an American soldier is badly injured and asks for help, as part of her Muslim religion, Reshmina cannot refuse. She leads the soldier to her home where she puts her family and entire village in danger, especially when her twin brother, Pasoon, runs off to join the Taliban and tell of the hidden American. Like some of Gratz’s other novels, these two stories on opposite sides of the world will intertwine. But how? This WWII story is told from three perspectives. Louisa, 15, is a recently orphaned transplant from Jamaica. The job opportunities in London are zero when her skin color is discovered, even though she is highly educated. Hence, the perfect opportunity arises when she answers an ad over the phone to be the caretaker of an 87-year-old woman in the north of the country. Louisa and her charge, Jane, who hides her German heritage, hit it off beautifully, living in the inn run by Jane’s niece near a Royal Air Force base in northern England. Jamie Beaufort-Stuart is flight commander of B-Flight. While those under his charge respect him, he seems to always be in conflict with his commander. Ellen McEwen is a volunteer at the base, driving personnel wherever they need to go. As a female, she also rooms at the inn and is hiding a secret that she is a Traveler (like gypsies), who are looked down on. When a German pilot lands his plane at the English base and stays at the inn, Louisa uncovers the Enigma machine, a code-breaking machine, he leaves behind. She also finds sheets of scheduled code, allowing her and German-speaking Jane to decode German messages which Ellen delivers to Jamie, giving him the edge in attacking German ships and planes. But when the German pilot returns with two comrades, things get more dangerous, both on the base, at the inn and in the air. For fans of Sharon Draper's ever popular Out of My Mind about Melody, an 11-year-old with cerebral palsy, a sequel will come out in late summer in which Melody goes to a summer camp for kids with disabilities. This book is bound to be just a popular as the first. Look for it in stores, and hopefully libraries, after August 31, 2021. Some new books have finally arrived in the library. Click on the links below to listen to these short videos.
Books for Grades 6 & 7 Books for Grades 8 and up Most students will say the genre of historical fiction is not their favorite. But often, after reading a great book of this genre, they seek out other good works of historical fiction. An “oldie but goodie,” (published 13 years ago) this book will cause that reaction with most students. Chains is the first book of The Seeds of America trilogy. Set at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, 13-year-old Isabel and her younger sister, Ruth, are slaves of Miss Mary Finch. While promised freedom when their owner dies, Mary’s nephew, Robert Finch, has other ideas and sells the sisters to a Loyalist family who moves the girls to New York City from all they know in Rhode Island. Isabel decides that if the country can fight for freedom, so can she. After taking the advice of a servant boy, Isabel spies on the family she serves and other Loyalist families, passing information along to the rebels. When Ruth is separated from her, Isabel has even more reason to turn against her owners and plot for her freedom. (Book 2 – Ashes, Book 3 – Forge) Here is a link to some of the YA books coming to a screen near you in 2021. Why not read the book before you see the movie?
How many people actually get the job they dream of as an 8-year-old? Not many, but Dan Emmett is one. As a third grader, he was so impacted by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy that he knew he wanted to grow up and protect the President of the U.S. And that is what he did. As a Secret Service agent, he was part of the presidential detail for three presidents. It looks like a glamorous job – traveling the country and the world with the President – but his life was always on the line, ready to take a bullet for the man he helped protect. There was apprehension every time he left the safety of the White House with the President, never sure if this would be a time of trouble. The schedule was grueling with long hours at all times of the day and night. His life was not his own. And sometimes, the personality of the president was difficult to deal with. Emmett’s 21-year career as an agent was not all spent with a presidential detail. First, he had to survive the tough physical requirements of boot camp. Then, he spent a few years investigating check fraud. But when he finally achieved his goal of working to protect the president, he believed it was well worth the sacrifices he had made. Reading about Emmet’s many adventures while protecting the President is like reading an action novel – except this is real life for a Secret Service agent. Looking for some light holiday reading? Maybe you’ve heard about this series on Netflix. Before you watch the show, how about trying the book which begins with: “I’ve left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.” Lily has left a red moleskin notebook full of challenges on her favorite shelf in Strand, a popular New York City bookstore. She is looking for just the right person to take the bait. Along comes Dash, looking for a particular book, when the red notebook catches his eye. He decides to accept the challenge and writes one of his own for Lily to find and accept. And so the two spend the Christmas holiday, hiding the notebook in various locations around the city, exchanging dares for the other to solve. But when they “discuss” whether to meet, Lily begins to wonder if the right stranger found her notebook. Cohn and Levithan have added two more Dash and Lily titles since this series opener was first published. |
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